Button delivering device

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for delivering buttons to a sewing head and during the delivery orienting the button with respect to the sewing needle. The apparatus includes a reciprocable feed carriage having means for orienting the button. Pneumatic cylinders reciprocate and tilt the carriage to feed and assist in orienting the button.

2 207 977 7/1940 Sum U United States Patent 1 1 3,563,193

[72] Inventors Francis I'Llhlghes; 2,505,468 4/1950 Forca 2/! 13 Douglas J. Crawford, Troy, N-Y- 2,783,897 3/1957 Farquharson 223/ l 73X 211 AppLNo. 837,190 3,024,747 3/1962 McBean etal.... 112/113 [22] Filed June 27, 1969 3, I 75,703 3/ l 965 Young 22 I 73X [45] Patented Feb, 16, 1971 3,363,805 1/1968 Prezes 22I/l73 [73] Assignee Cluett,Peabody&Co.,Inc. 3,382,824 5/1968 Bronfman 112/113 Troy, N.Y.

[54] BUTTON DELIVERING DEVICE I57, 173; 112/104, 106, I10, I13, I44, I I4; l93/43D; I98/33,33 (R2); 214/], IR

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorneys-Leo Fornero, Robert J. Dockery and Robert J.

Seligman to the sewing needle. The apparatus includes a reciprocable' feed carriage having means for orienting the button. Pneumatic cylinders reclprocate and tilt the carriage to feed and assist in orienting the button,

PATENTEU FEB 1 a mu SHEET 1 UF i INVENTORS FRANCIS H. HUGHES DOUGLAS J. CRAWFORD I BY FIG.

ATTORNEYS PATENIED FEB] 6 I97! sum 2 OF 4 INVENTORJ Y FRANCIS H. HUGHES DOUGLAS J.-CRAWFORD aqu ATTORNEYg FIG. 3

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' INVENTOR. FRANCIS H. HUGHES RQUGLAS J. CRAWFORD BUTTON DELIVERING DEVICE The present invention relates to button-delivering apparatus and more particularly to a button-delivering apparatus which can be used in conjunction with a conventional sewing machine and a vibratory-feed button supplier.

A variety of devices have been used in the past to feed buttons and position them in relation to a sewing machine needle. These are described for example in US Pat. Nos. 1,940,229, 2,207,077 and 3,089,443. Among the disadvantages of these and other machines are that they tend to be noisy and bulky.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages and it is an object of this invention to provide a compact and relatively noise-free button-feeding and orienting apparatus.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, buttons are fed from a vibratory button hopper into-a supply chute connected to the button-positioning apparatus. A button feed carriage assembly is driven by an air cylinder and transports a button from the supply chute to a clamp located below the sewing head. The holes in the button are properly oriented by the carriage and before delivery to the clamp so that the sewing needle will line up with the holes during sewing. A second air cylinder operates to disengage the feed carriage assembly from the button so that the assembly may return to its neutral position where it can pick up another button and start the cycle over again. Removal of the button from the clamp energizes a control circuit which is operatively associated with the feed carriage assembly to repeat the cycle.

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, the present invention comprises the features hereinafter described and particularly set out in the claims, the description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the-machine of FIG. 1; i I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the machine of FIG. 1 taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control circuit for the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of one of the elements of FIG. 1, taken along line 8-3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 5 show a frame 10 including. abutton supply chute 11 mounted thereon and connected at its other end to a vibratory button feed machine 12. The frame is mounted on sewing machine stand 9 in a conventional manner. The chute 11 terminates in a button clamp 13 which is below a sewing head 8 and is operatively attached to microswitch 14 by leaf spring 15 which spring forms a portion of the clamp wall. A

button 16 is shown in clamp 13. Mounted above the chute 11 is a button feed carriage assembly 17 having at one end a button-engaging mechanism 18 and at its other end a drive link 19. The feed carriage assembly 17is shown in a neutral or starting position. A double-acting air cylinder 26 having a piston rod 27 is operatively connected to the feed carriage assembly through drive link 19. Drive link 19 is flanked by restraining collars 28 and 29 which are mounted on piston rod 27. The air cylinder is mounted on frame 10 by mounting block 30 (referring now additionally to FIG. 6). Sleeve 40 of the feed carriage assembly 17 is journaled near one end through mounting block 30 and extends between button-engaging mechanism 18 and drive link 19 as shown in the figure. Stops 31 and 32 are provided.

A spring-return air cylinder 34 is secured to frame 10 by mounting block 35. A "T shaped bar 36 is mounted on the piston rod of cylinder 34.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the drawing shows drive link 19 connected to piston rod 27 and to shaft 23. Pin-42 on shaft 23 engages slot 41 in sleeve 40 when the shaft is moved toward clamp 13. Piston rod axial movement will cause movement of the drive link towards the clamp becauseof the collars 28 and 29. Since the shaft is rigidly secured to the drive link, movement of the drive link towards the clamp causes accompanying movement of the shaft 23 towards the clamp 13. A roller 37 is mounted on drive link 19 for engagement with the T- bar 36 (see FIG. 1). With pin 42 engaging slot 41 and the button at the clamp, extension of the T-bar applies a force F to roller 37 in a direction indicated by the arrow, whereby drive link 19 together with feed carriage assembly 17 is pivoted around the axis of shaft 23 so that the button-engaging mechanism 18 is tilted to remove the pins from the button.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a spring 50 connects the frame and sleeve 40 and serves to return the tilted feed carriage assembly to a neutral position after the carriage has delivered a button to the clamp 13. During this return to the neutral position, T-bar 36 rides on roller 37. A second spring 51 connects the frame and sleeve 40 andreturns the feed carriage assembly to an untilted position after the feed carriage returns to its neutral position and the T-bar retracts. Once the carriage is returned, piston rod 27 extends beyond its starting or neutral position and moves shaft 23 independently of sleeve 40. This movement serves to orient the bottom which is now below the button-engaging mechanism 18 and is awaiting delivery to the clamp.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the drawing shows an elevation view of the button-engaging mechanism 18 of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A. The mechanism 18 includes a gear 21 carried in housing 25 which is rigidly attached to sleeve 40. Extending from the bottom surface of the gear are pins 20 spaced equidistant from the center of the gear, which pins engage the holes in the button. The gear 21 mates with an adjacent gear 22. Cylindrical shaft 23 runs the entire length of the feed carriage assembly and at one end drives gear 22 through rack 24.

'The cylindrical shaft is supported at its other end by frame 10 and is fixedly attached near this end to the drive link 19 (shown in FIG. 1).

A third spring 52 connects sleeve 40 and drive link 19 and serves to return the drive link and piston rod 27 to a neutral position after the piston rod has extended.

The button-positioning apparatus is shown in its neutral or starting position in FIG. 1. A button 16 is shown in the clamp 13, and the button-engaging mechanism 18 is prepared to deliver another button. Succeeding buttons supplied by the vibratory button hopper descent one at a time in chute 11 and come to rest against the button held by the engaging mechanism.

Removal of a sewn button from the clamp by the sewing machine operator causes leaf spring 15 to trip microswitch 14. Closing microswitch 14 actuates pneumatic cylinder 26 and causes piston 27 to retract. When piston rod 27 retracts (goes to the bottom in FIG. 1), drive link 19 slides pin 42 into slot 41 and moves the feed carriage assembly toward clamp 13. The button delivered will have its holes lined up with the sewing needle as will be discussed hereinafter.

The forward motion of the feed carriage assembly 17 trips a second and third microswitch S and 8:, which actuate pneumatic cylinder 34 causing the cylinder piston rod to extend. T- bar 36 is pushed against roller 37, exerting a force thereagainst. The cooperation of pin 42 with the slot 41 of sleeve 40 causes the feed carriage assembly and drive link 19 to rock as a single unit about the axis of shaft 23. This rocking motion tilts the button-engaging mechanism thereby removing pins 20 from the button holes. Spring 50 then returns the sleeve 40, tripping microswitches S, and S which deactivate cylinder 34. Spring 51 can now return the button-engaging mechanism to an untilted position since the roller is no longer restrained by the T-bar. The pins 20 are now in contact with the next button to be delivered to clamp 13. In returning to a neutral position, the sleeve 40 has tripped microswitches S and S as a result of which piston rod 27 extends. The rack mechanism 24 rotates gear 22 which in turn rotates gear 21 through a predetermined are so as to spin the pins 20 sufficiently to engage the holes of the button. Spring 52 now retracts piston rod 27 and shaft 23 and rotates gear 21 back through the aforementioned are as a result of which the pins and the button are now oriented such that the sewing machine needle will be aligned with the holes when the button is delivered to the clamp. Removal of the sewn button from clamp 13 starts the operative cycle again.

FIG. 4 is an across-the-line wiring diagram in which relays are indicated by the letter R with an appropriate subscript and the relay contacts are indicated by the letter R-A, R-B, etc. The relay contacts are indicated by parallel lines if normally open; the parallel lines are traversed by a diagonal line if normally closed. In FIG. 4, the contacts are shown with all the relays deenergized. The coils of the solenoids which operate the air cylinder valves are indicated by the letter V with appropriate subscripts. D and D are diodes which convert alternating current into pulsating half-wave direct current.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the positioning apparatus will be considered first in a neutral position which exists after a button 16 has been delivered to clamp 13 and a subsequent button has been oriented for delivery to the clamp. In this neutral or starting position, switches S S S S and S are open; S 8,, and S, are closed. Removal of button 16 from clamp 13 causes leaf spring 15 to contact and close microswitch S (14 in FIG. 1). Relay R is energized through 8;, contacts R,A and R,B close, contact R,A. Capacitor C connected across solenoid coil V is charged up. Pneumatic cylinder 26 being operatively associated with V is activated and drives button feed carriage assembly 17 towards clamp 13 thereby delivering an oriented button to the clamp. Movement of this new button into clamp 13 moves leaf spring l5 which opens switch S Movement of the feed carriage assembly towards clamp 13 has mechanically tripped switch S and closed switch This opens branch S of switch S deenergizing relay R,. Contacts R -A and R,B open; the deenergization of solenoid coil V is delayed by the discharge of capacitor D through the coil. Tripping S also closes branch S thereby energizing relay R and solenoid coil V Contact R A closes establishing an alternate feed for relay R through switch S and contact R -A. Contact R -C closes, as a result of which capacitor C charges up through diode D Contacts R B and R D open. Cylinder 34 which is operatively associated with coil V drives T-bar 36 into engagement with roller 37 so as to tilt feed carriage assembly 17 and remove pins 20 from the button. Solenoid valve V, is now completely deenergized and Spring 50 pulls the tilted assembly back to the neutral position. The feed carriage assembly upon reaching the neutral position mechanically trips switches S and 8 Branch S closes, branch S opens. Switch S opens. With both S and S open, relay R and coil V are deenergized. Therefore, contact R -B closes permitting capacitor C to discharge through coil V Coil V is operatively associated with cylinder 26 and piston rod 27 is caused to extend, carrying with it cylindrical shaft 23. The rack mechanism 24 on the end of the cylindrical shaft rotates gear 22. Capacitor C meanwhile has completely discharged through coil V which becomes deenergized. Cylinder 26 is deactivated and piston rod 27 is returned to a neutral position. Gear 22 is rotated back through the aforementioned are as a result of which the engaged button is properly oriented. Now when switch S is closed manually or automatically the sewing cycle is started by energizing solenoid control coil through closed contacts R,-C and R D. Removal of the sewn button starts the operative cycle again.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific apparatus, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that a wide variety of changes may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. Additionally, certain features of the apparatus may be used independently of other and equivalents may be substituted for the various apparatus elements, all within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In combination with a sewing machine a button delivering apparatus comprising:

a. a frame attached to the sewing machine;

b. a clamp mounted on the frame and below the sewing head of the sewing machine;

0. an air cylinder mounted on the apparatus, said air cylinder including a piston and a piston rod;

d. a member including a shaft and a sleeve disposed about the shaft, and the member mounted for slidable movement toward and away from the clamp, the member further including means located at the clamp end of the member for engaging a button;

e. a chute for feeding buttons to the engaging means one at a time;

f. means connecting the member to the piston rod of said cylinder such that movement of the piston rod towards the clamp moves the member and in turn the engaging means from a starting position, at which a button coming from the chute is engaged by the engaging means, and toward the clamp; and

g. means for returning the member to the starting position such that the engaging means upon its return engages the next button coming from the chute.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein .the connecting means includes a pair of collars rigidly attached to said piston rod, a link rigidly attached to said shaft and extending between the collars, whereby axial movement of the piston rod causes axial movement of the shaft, and the link engageable with said sleeve when the engaging means which is attached to the sleeve is between the clamp and the start position, whereby movement of the piston rod towards the clamp-moves the sleeve and the engaging means towards the clamp.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the button-engaging means includes a housing fixedly attached to said sleeve, a rack located at the clamp end of said shaft and contained within the housing,.a pinion engaging the rack and mounted within the housing, a gear driven by the pinion and mounted within the housing, the gear having pins extending from its lower surface for engagement with the holes of a button, means for moving the shaft independently of the sleeve and beyond the starting point, and means for returning the shaft to the starting point independently of the sleeve such that the link abuts the sleeve.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including means for removing the pins from the button before return of the engaging means to the starting position, comprising means for rocking said member about the axis of the shaft, said rocking means including a second air cylinder mounted on the apparatus and means coupling said second cylinder and said member and adapted to allow movement of the piston rod of said second cylinder to rock the member about the axis of the shaft regardless of the axial position of said member, and said shaft being journaled on the frame whereby extension of the piston rod of said second cylinder causes the member to rotate about the axis of the shaft thereby lifting the pins from the buttonholes of the fed button.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the coupling means includes a means for preventing relative motionbetween the shaft and the sleeve when the member is rocked about the shaft axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for moving the shaft independently of the sleeve includes an adjustable stop attached to the sleeve. 

1. In combination with a sewing machine a button delivering apparatus comprising: a. a frame attached to the sewing machine; b. a clamp mounted on the frame and below the sewing head of the sewing machine; c. an air cylinder mounted on the apparatus, said air cylinder including a piston and a piston rod; d. a member including a shaft and a sleeve disposed about the shaft, and the member mounted for slidable movement toward and away from the clamp, the member further including means located at the clamp end of the member for engaging a button; e. a chute for feeding buttons to the engaging means one at a time; f. means connecting the member to the piston rod of said cylinder such that movement of the piston rod towards the clamp moves the member and in turn the engaging means from a starting position, at which a button coming from the chute is engaged by the engaging means, and toward the clamp; and g. means for returning the member to the starting position such that the engaging means upon its return engages the next button coming from the chute.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connecting means includes a pair of collars rigidly attached to said piston rod, a link rigidly attached to said shaft and extending between the collars, whereby axial movement of the piston rod causes axial movement of the shaft, and the link engageable with said sleeve when the engaging means which is attached to the sleeve is between the clamp and the start position, whereby movement of the piston rod towards the clamp moves the sleeve and the engaging means towards the clamp.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the button-engaging means includes a housing fixedly attached tO said sleeve, a rack located at the clamp end of said shaft and contained within the housing, a pinion engaging the rack and mounted within the housing, a gear driven by the pinion and mounted within the housing, the gear having pins extending from its lower surface for engagement with the holes of a button, means for moving the shaft independently of the sleeve and beyond the starting point, and means for returning the shaft to the starting point independently of the sleeve such that the link abuts the sleeve.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 including means for removing the pins from the button before return of the engaging means to the starting position, comprising means for rocking said member about the axis of the shaft, said rocking means including a second air cylinder mounted on the apparatus and means coupling said second cylinder and said member and adapted to allow movement of the piston rod of said second cylinder to rock the member about the axis of the shaft regardless of the axial position of said member, and said shaft being journaled on the frame whereby extension of the piston rod of said second cylinder causes the member to rotate about the axis of the shaft thereby lifting the pins from the buttonholes of the fed button.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the coupling means includes a means for preventing relative motion between the shaft and the sleeve when the member is rocked about the shaft axis.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for moving the shaft independently of the sleeve includes an adjustable stop attached to the sleeve. 